Ignition apparatus



May 9, 1933. c. H. DAVIS, JR

IGNITION APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 7, 1931 Patented May 9, 1933UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 CHARLES HALL IR, 01' AN-DEBSON, INDIANA,ASSIGNOB TO DELCO-B-EKY CORPORATION, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, L OOBIOBATIONOF DELAWARE rem'rron APPARATUS Application filed November This inventionrelates to an ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine andmore particularly engines which have a plurality of spark gaps to befired simultaneously.

Itis an object of the present invention to provide a timer-distributorunit the distributor head of which requires a'relatively small number ofterminal sts from which sparking impulses are distributed to the postswhich are connected with spark gapls.

In order to accomplish this object t e present head having concentricinner and outer rows of posts, one row vof posts being connectedrespectively with the spark gaps and the other row of osts 'beinconnected with the terminals oft e means or generating sparkingimpulses. This distributor head cooperates with anjengine driven rotorhaving asmany distributing conductors as there are;

the same instant.

s ark gaps to be fired at stem which ach conductor .7 has a main movesin proximity to theposts in one row,

and each conductor has a plurality of branches which move in proximitytothe posts in the other row, there being but one ranch of eachconductor adjacent to a post of the last mentioned row while the-stem ofeachconductor is adjacent a post in the first mentioned row at thefiringperiod of the engine.

Further objects and; advantages of the resent invention will be apparentfrom the ollowing description, reference being had to .Ithe accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of thepresent-invention is clearly shown.

' In the drawing: Figs. 1 and 2 constitutea wiring diagram illustratingthe present invention; Referring tothe drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates the,cylinders of an 8 cylinder engine in which these cylinders are numberedfrom 1 to 8 and each cylinder has two spark plugs A and B.

Referrin to is connecta le by switch 21 with a wire 22 connected withpairs oi ignition coil primaries P1 and P2 apd pairs of ignition coilprimaries P3 and 4. The primariesPl,

invention provides a distributor are operate Fig. 2 a storage battery 7,1931, Serial No. 573,602. Renewed July 22, 1932.

32 is pivoted at 34 and carries a rubbing block 35 which cooperates witha timer cam 23. The lever 32 is connected to one end of a leaf springconductor 36 the other end of which is connected to the terminal 37which is connected by wire 38 to primaries P2 and P1. The contacts 30and 31 are shunted by condenser 39. Similarly, the primaries P3 and P4are connected together in series with a circuit interrupter comprising apair of contracts 40 and 41 attached respectively with a circuit breakerlever 42 and a ground connection 43. The lever 42 is pivoted at 44 andcarries a rubbing block 45 which cooperates with atimer cam 23. Thelever 42 is connected to one end of a leaf spring conductor 46 the otherend of which is connected-to the terminal 47 which is .connected bywire'48 to primaries P4 and P3. The contacts 40 and 41 are shunts .ed bya condenser 49. The rubbing blocks 35 and 45 are located soithat theircircuit shaft 24 which is operated at engine'cycle .speed, that is,engine speed for a 2 cycle engine, one-half engine speed for a '4 cycleengine.

The ignition coils, circuit interrupter and battery constitute sparkingimpulse nerating means which is controlled by t e enine through theengine driven cam '23.

his sparking impulse generating means comprises a dplurality ofgenerators which alternately by the I engine driven cam 23. One of thesegenerators comprises the coils PlS1 and P2S2 andthe circuitinterrupterwhichconnects them with. the storage battery; and the other sparkingimpulse enerator comprises the i ition coils Pit-g3 and P4-S4 and thecircuit interrupter which connects these coils with the storage battery.

The shaft 24 drives a distributorrotor spaced twice in a path betweentwo concentric circular rows of distributor posts, the inner row beingnumbered 53 and the outer row 54 Therearebutfourposts53connectedreusedaectively with the secondary coils S1 to .th Hence eaaclh 53 has hefinmarked wi a speci esignati' on in 'ca to which secondary it isconnected. fi r example, post 53#s1 designates that it is connected bywire 61 with secondary S1. Similarl post 53#s2 is connected by wire 62witli secondary S2; post 58#s3 is connected b wire 63 with secondary 83;and post #04 is connected by wire 64 with secondaryS4.Itwillbenotedthatinthecircular row of posts 53 there are two groups ofposts diametrically opposite. One grou includes posts :1 and all, theother in udes postsa2'anda4. Thesepostsarespaced Kart an angulardistance corresponding to e firing interval which is 45 for an 8cylinder engine. It will be noted that the distributing conductorbranches R1, R2, R3 and B4 are ui ly distant and are e firing intervalor 90 for an 8 cylinder engine. Diametrically opposite branches of thedistributing conductors coolperates alternatel with other diametrica yopposite bran es of the distributing conductors; and each branchoperates two times in succesion and then remains inoperative while theother branch of the same conductor is.operative two times in succesion.For example, amuming that the cam 28 rotates clockwise as indicated byarrow 27 in Fig. 2 it will be apparent that just as contact 30 separatesfrom contact 81 conductor 51 will be operative to conduct a sparkinfAimulse between post 58#s1 and post 54%l 1-R1 and that concurrently therewiconductor 52 will be operative to conduct a sparking impulse betweendistributor post 53#a2 and 54#1BS2- R3. The indicia 1A 1-R1 d tes thatspark plug A of cylinder #1 1s furnished with a sparking impulsegenerated in secondary S1 and distributed through indicia 1BS2R3indicates that plug B of cylinder #1 is supplied with a sparking impulsegenerated in secondary S2 and distributed t rough the branch B8 ofconductor 52. With this explanation the means of the indicia applied toother distributor 54 will be entirely use of in 'cia serves the purposeof a multiplicity of wires connecrgs post 54 with spark pin and is prefein this case on account its simplicity.

the branch R1 of conductor 51. Likewise the clear. The

For dual ignition it is customary to use two standard plugs in each en ecylinder. One double end spark plug 001%; be used in which case thecircuit of one secondary would be completed throu h the circuit of theother secondary in whic a sparking impube is concurrently generated.Instead of using four 'tion coils two coils each with two msulasecondary terminals could be For example, in place of us' two coilsPl-Sl and P2-S2 one coil cou d be used and its secondary terminals wouldbe connected respectively with post 53#a1 and post 53#s2. Similarlyinstead of using a pair of soils P3-S3 and P4-S4 one coil could be usedhaving a double terminal secondary, the ends of which are connectedrespectively to post 53#a3 and post 53#a4.

It will be ap arent from the foregoin description of t e constructionand mo e of operation of the present invention that it is applicable toengines whose cylinders numher other than 8, such as 12, 16, 20, 24 etc.Obviously the number of osts 54 in the outer row will be 2N where is thenumber of cylinders and the spacing of these posts will be 360/2N. Wheredouble ignition is the distributor posts 53 of the inner row Will bearranged 111 two groups, the number of posts in each group bemg G. Wherethfe t1lieumber is thwo or mofre the spacing 0 posts in eac u o sts ofthe inner row 53 will l'he distributor rotor 50 will carry two se ents51 and 52 corresponding to the 1mm of spark gaps to be firedsimultaneously. The

ar of the main stems of the ents 51 and 52 is 180:(180/N).

e number of branches of each rotor conductor be equal to N/2G and the anular em between the as cut branc es will G/N. The f0 owin tabulationsshow the values for engines having 8, 12, 16, and 24 cylinders. r

retaliation #1 [0, the number of posts 58 in each ll'oup. equals 2]umber NM 0 mu not Spacing ot a sunset m m: IB- "mmtbranchesilri N F 0 is. 1 a I s We: 1:20 4 M's: a as We: e I) Tet-latte. #8[0,taenu-beretpeeta58laeaenm,eqaah1] lNmnbl' d Nnnhcelsylaacaanuela W i-mu II- mtbranch-- N... We: N 8.. wa qc g 12..- Ni 15 6 I! '2 a "as 1amin- 1: w

This invention contemplates a distributor having circularly arrangedposts connected respectively with engine spark gaps, other postsarranged consecutively with respect to the spark gap posts and connectedwith sparking impulse generator terminals. This distributor includesrotating conductor arms moving between the spark gap posts and sparkingimpulse generator posts, each arm having a plurality of branches whichcooperate with the sparking impulse generator posts. At one explosionperiod, one branch of each arm is adjacent one of the spark generatorposts and said posts are connected with a sparking impulse generatorwhich operates at that explosion. The sparking impulse generating meanscomprises two devices which operate alternately. Hence, at the nextexplosion period branches of the distributing arms will be adjacent twoof the sparking impulse generator posts, said posts being connected withanother of the sparking impulse generating devices which is operated atthat explosion period. The conducting arm branches and the sparkgenerating posts are so arranged that a branch of each rotor cooperatesa plurality of times in succession with spark generator posts and thenanother branch of each arm cooperates a plurality of times in successionwith the s ark generator posts. More particularly, tiie spark generatorposts are arranged in groups, the posts in each group being relativelyclosely spaced, each group being respectively connected with thealternately operatmg sparking impulse generating devices.

It will be noted that each conducting arm branch cooperates a pluralityof times with the spark generator posts of each group and with thoseposts in succession an then another branch of the same rotor cooperateswith said group of posts in succession before that arm passes intocooperative relation with another group of spark generator osts.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms'might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion en ine having Nexplosion periods during eac engine cycle and comprising, incombination, means for distributing sparking impulses to S (a pluralityof) spark gaps to be fired simultaneously at each explosion period, saiddistributing means comprising a head having concentric rows of posts,one row of posts numbering N x S and each post in that row beingconnected with a spark gap, the other row of posts numbering S or amultiple thereof, said distributing means comprising also an .en-

gine driven rotor having S distributing conductors each having a mainstem which moves in proximity to the posts inthe first mentioned row andeach having a plurality of branches which move in proximity to the postsin the second mentioned row, there being but one branch of eachconductor adjacent to a post of the second mentioned row while the stemof each conductor is adjacent a post of the first mentioned row at thefiring period of the engine; and en gine controlled sparking impulsegenerating means connected with the posts of the sec- 0nd mentioned row.

2. Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having Nexplosion periods during each engine cycle and having two spark gapsfiring simultaneously, comprising in combination, a distributor headhaving concentric rows of posts, the posts of one row numbering 2N andeach being connected with a spark gap, the posts of the other row beingarranged in two groups arranged diametrically opposite, the number ofposts in each group being G, the spacing of the posts in each groupbeing 360/N if G, the number of posts, is greater than one; an enginedriven distributor rotor carrying two conducting segments which rotatebetween said rows of posts; the segments each having a main stemrotating in proximity to the posts of the first mentioned row, the stemsof the segments being spaced 180i (180 'N), and each segment having aplurality of branches which rotate in proximity to the second mentionedrow of posts, the number of branches of each segment being N/2G and thespacing of the segment. branches being 360G/N; and engine controllingsparking impulse generating means connected with the posts of the secondmentioned row.

3. Ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine having Nexplosion periods during each engine cycle and having two spark gapsfiring simultaneously at each explosion period, comprising incombination, a. distributor head having con- 4 (180/N), and each segmenthaving a plurality of branches which rotate in proximity to the posts ofthe second mentioned row, the number of branches of each segment ing 2Nand each being connected with a spark gap, the posts of the other rownumbering four and being arranged in two diametrically opposite groupsof two posts groupv each, the spacing of the posts in each being 360/Nan engine driven distributor rotor carrying two condu1ting segmentswhich rotate between the rows of posts, the segments each having a mainstem rotating in proximity to the posts of the first mentioned row, thestems of the segments being spaced 180i(180/N), and each segment havinga plurality of branches which rotate in proximity to the posts of thesecond mentioned row, the number of branches of each segment being N /4and the spacing ofv the branches being 720/N; two sparking impulsegenerators each having two terminals connected respectively withdiametrically opposite posts of the second mentionedrow of posts; andengine operated means for causing said generators to functionalternately.

5. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a pluralityof sparkgaps to be fired at each exploslon period comprising, incombination, eratmg sparking impulses and having a pluralit ofterminals, engine operated circuit bre er means for controlling thesparking impulse generators, a distributor head carrying a circular rowof posts connected respectively with spark gaps, a plurality of posts ofsubstantially the same width as the spark gap posts of the head andarranged concentrical y therewith and connected respectively withterminals of the spark generating means, a plurality of distributingarms arranged to pass between the first and second mentioned posts butout of contact therewith in order to distribute sparking impulses fromthe second mentioned posts to certain of the spark gap posts, each armhaving a }plurality of branches which cooperate wit the spark generatorterminal osts, and means for operating the circuit reaker means and forrotating the distributing arms.

6. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, incombination, generating means controlled by the engine, a distributorfor distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to bemeans for genbust on engines comprisingd row of posts fired in groupssimultaneously at each explosion period, said distributorcomprising Ihavin a plurality with t e spark generator osts.

7. Ignition apparatus or internal combustion. engines comprising, incombination,

generating means controlled'by the engine, a distributor fordistributing sparking impulses to aplurality of spark gaps to be red ingroups simultaneously at each explosion concentric rows of distributor.posts, one row of posts being connected respectively with the spark-gapsof the engine, and another row of posts being connected with the andanthe number of conductors being equalto -the number of spark gaps to befired at the same time, and each conductor of branches cooperating-cperiod, said distributor. comprising a spark generating means, saiddistributor com rising a rotor ca rying distributing con uctors whichmove between the rows of posts in order to provide conductin pathsbetween them, the number of cons uctors being equal to the number ofspark gaps to be fired at the same time and each conductor havin aplurality of branches coo rating with t e spark generator posts, saidranches and said spark generator ranged so that the one branc operates aalternately with another branch of the same conductor. a v I v 8.Ignitio n apparatus for internal. com.-

of a conductor enerating means controlle by the engine, a istributor fordistributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be vfiredin grou s -simultaneouslyat each explosion rio said distributorcomprising concentric rows of distributor. posts one row of posts beingconnected respectively with the spark ga s of the engine and anothereing connected with the spark generating means, the spark generatorposts being arranged in gr0ups,.said distributor,

com rising a rotor carrying distributin con I uctors which move betweenthe rows 0 osts in order to provide conducting paths tween them, thenumber of conductors being equal to the number of, spark gaps to befired at the same time, each conductor being constructed so as tocooperate with a roup of spark generator posts a plurality of timesfinsuccession before passing into cooperative relation with anothergroup ofspark generator posts. I I

9. Ignition apparatus for internal comgosts being arplurality of timesin succession in combination,

bustion engines, comprising in combination, generating means controlledby the engine, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to aplurality. of spark gaps to be fired in groups simultaneously at eachexplosion eriod, said distributor comprising concentric rows ofdistributor posts one row of posts being connected respectively with thespark gaps of the engine and another row of posts being connected withthe spark ggnerating means, the spark generator posts ing arranged ingroups, said distributor com rising a rotor carrying distributing conuctors which move between the rows of posts in order to provideconducting paths between them, the number of conductors being equal tothe number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time and each conductorhaving a plurality of branches coopcrating with the spark generatorposts one conductor branch cooperating with the spark generator posts ofa group in succession and then another conductor branch of the sameconductor cooperating with the spark generator posts of a group insuccession.

10. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, incombination, spark generating means controlled by the engine, adistributor having a circular row of posts connected with engine sparkgaps and having other posts concentric with t e spark gap posts andconnected with the spark generating means, and a conductor movablebetween the spark gap posts and the spark generator posts and having aplurality of branches each of which cooperates with the spark generatorposts.

11. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, incombination, spark generating means controlled by the engine, adistributor having a circular row of posts connected with engine sparkgaps and having other posts concentric with the spark gap posts andconnected with the spark generating means, and a conductor movablebetween the spark; gap posts and the spark generator posts and having aplurality of branches each of which cooperates with the spark generatorposts a plurality of times in succession and alternately with anotherbranch.

12. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, incombination, spark generating means controlled by the engine, adistributor having a circular row of posts connected with engine sparkgaps and having other posts concentric with the spark gap posts andconnected with the spark generating means, and a conductor movablebetween the spark gap posts and the spark generator posts and having aplurality of brancheseach of which cooperates with consecutive sparkgenerator posts a plurality of times in succession and then anotherbranch cooperates with consecutive spark generator posts a plurality oftimes 1n succession.

13. Ignition a paratus for internal combustion en 'nes iiaving Nexplosion periods during eac engine cycle comprising, in combination,spark generating means controlled by the engine, and a distributorhaving a circular row of posts connected with engine spark ga s, andother posts connected with the spar generating means, at least onedistributing conductor arm movable between the spark gap posts and sparkgenerator posts, the number of arms bein equal to the number of sparkgaps to be red at the same time, each arm having B branches and each armoperating -cycles of operation durin each engine cycle, B being thenumber 0 times each branch operates during a cycle of operation of itsarm.

14. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having aplurality of explosion periods and a plurality of spark gaps to be firedat each explosion riod compgising, in combination, a plurahty of spargenerating devices controlled by the engine for alternate operation, anda distributor having a circular row of posts connected respectively withspark gaps, and posts arranged concentrically with respect to the sparkgap posts and connected alternately respectively with the sparkgenerating devices, and a rotor carrying distributing arms movingbetween the spark plu lposts and the spark generator posts and eac avingbranches, each branch cooperating first with a post connected wRh one ofthe spark generating devices and then with a post connected with anotherof the spark generating devices.

15. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having aplurality of explosion periods and a plurality of spark gaps to be firedat each explosion riod com rising, in combination, a plura ity oi spargenerating devices controlled by the engine for alternate o eration, anda distri utorhaving a circu ar row of posts connected respectlvely withspark gaps and posts arran d concentrical with respect to the spar gapposts an connected alternately respective y with the spark generatingdevices, and a rotor carrying distributing arms moving between the sparkplug posts and the spark generator posts and each having branches, onebranch of each conductor cooperating first with a post connected withone of the spark generating devices and then with a post connected withanother spark generating device, and then another branch of eachconductor cooperatin first with a post connected with one of t e sparkgenerating devices and then with a post connected with another spark bythe total number of branches of all the generating device. arms.

16. Ignition apparatus for internal com In testimony whereof I heretoaflix my bustion engines having a plurality of exsignature. plosionperiods and requiring the firing of CHARLES HALL DAVIS, JR.

a plurality of spark gaps at each explosion riod coin )rising, incombination, a lurality of spar 'ng impulse generating evices operatedalternately by the engine, a distributor having circularly arrangedposts connected res ectively with spark gaps of the engine an havingother posts arranged diametrically opposite in pairs, each pair beingconnected with a sparking impulse gencrating device, and a plurality ofdistributing conductor arms each having a plurality of branches soarranged with respect to the spark generator posts that, at eachexplosion period, a branch of an arm is located adjacent each one of apair of dia- 86 metrically opposite spark generator posts.

17. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having aplurality of exlosion eriods and requiring the firing of a a pluralityotspark gaps at each explosion 90 period comprising, in combination, apluralityof sparking impulses generating devices operated alternately bythe engine, a distributor having circularly arranged posts connectedrespectively with spark gaps 05 of the engine and having other postsarranged diametrically opposite in pairs each pair being connected witha sparking impulse generating device and a plurality of distributingconductor arms each having a a plurality of branches so arranged withresplect to the spark nerator that, at eac explosion perio a branc of anarm is located adjacent each one of a pair of diametrically oppositespark generator posts and so that eac branch of an arm operates aplurali of times in succession alternately with ano er branch of thesame arm.

'18. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, incombination, generating means controlled by the engine, a distributorfor distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of'spark gaps to bered in groggs simultaneously at each explosion peri said distributorcomprising concentric rows of distributor posts, one row of posts beingconnected respectively with the spark gaps of the engine and ana otherrow of posts being connected with the spark generating means, saiddistributor com rising a rotor carrying distributing con uctors whichmove between the rows of posts in order to provide conducting pathsbetween them, the number of conductors being equal to the number ofspark gaps to be fired at the same time, and each conductor havinghapluralit of branches cooperating wit the spar generator posts, a theconductor branches being equi-' larly spaced by an amount equal to 360'vided

